January 08, 2013

Looking back at 2012: What the Cowboys did right, did wrong, and what they need in 2013

A quick look at what the Cowboys got right, what went wrong, and what they need:

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Receiver Dez
Bryant finally lived up to expectations as a former No. 1 pick and could
be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Anthony Spencer also
had a career year at linebacker, and tight end Jason Witten proved to be
an inspiration after starting the season with a lacerated spleen and
ending with the most catches by a tight end in NFL history.

Cornerback
Brandon Carr lived up to Jason Garrett's description of being the right
kind of player and person the Cowboys want in the locker room with his
play on the field and his handling of tragic deaths in Kansas City and
Dallas.

As a team, the Cowboys bought into Garrett's message of
one game at a time, one play at a time and kept battling through
on-field adversity and off-the-field tragedy.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Everything
starts and ends with quarterback Tony Romo, and one season after having
a career best 31-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio, he matched a
career high with 19 interceptions. He was hampered by a poor running
game and poor line play, forcing him to do too much. Romo's bad
decision-making was a huge disappointment.

The running game was
woeful at best, totaling the fewest yards per game in franchise history.
Injuries on defense decimated what appeared to be a promising unit.

Six
starters were lost for the season, and that doesn't include linebacker
DeMarcus Ware, who played the last half of the season with shoulder,
hamstring and elbow injuries that limited his effectiveness.

WHAT'S NEEDED

1. Defensive linemen

Nose
tackle Jay Ratliff played in only six games and saw his sacks decline
for a fourth consecutive season. He is aging, declining and likely in
the doghouse after his run-in with Jerry Jones.

The Cowboys also need upgrades at defensive end, where Kenyon Coleman is unlikely to return and Marcus Spears could be aged out.

2. Center/guard

The
Cowboys spent last off-season looking to upgrade the guard position and
ended up with the disappointing play of Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate
Livings.

They also have no answers at center with Phil Costa and
Kevin Kowalski, both being question marks because of their play and
recent surgeries.

The Cowboys should draft an interior lineman in the top three rounds.

3. Running back

Felix
Jones is likely not returning. And with DeMarco Murray's penchant for
finding his way on the injury list every season, the Cowboys need to
bring in a capable and durable running back to share the load and
possibly serve as a starter if necessary.

4. Pass-rush linebacker

The
biggest decision of the off-season will be on linebacker Anthony
Spencer. If the Cowboys can't re-sign him and don't put the franchise
tag on him for the second consecutive year -- guaranteeing him more than
$10 million -- then they need to find his replacement.

He was the team's best pass rusher at the end of the season with DeMarcus Ware wearing down.

5. Quarterback

The
Cowboys are not going to replace to Tony Romo at quarterback in 2013.
But it is time for them to start thinking about his replacement.

Drafting a quarterback and developing him for the future should finally be a priority for owner Jerry Jones.